Turnovers, running game help FPC past Matanzas


Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium was packed to capacity Sept. 2 for the crosstown rivalry game between Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools. PHOTOS BY BRIAN MCMILLAN
Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium was packed to capacity Sept. 2 for the crosstown rivalry game between Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools. PHOTOS BY BRIAN MCMILLAN
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FPC sophomore running back DeUndre Lumpkins rushed for 138 yards, caught three passes for 57 yards, and scored three touchdowns. 

DeUndre Lumpkins ran, juked and spun his way to the end zone three times Sept. 2, and the Bulldogs defeated the Pirates, 38-20, to open the 2011 high school football season in Flagler County.

Lumpkins, a sophomore, led FPC’s offensive, racking up 138 rushing yards and 57 receiving yards, including a 44-yard rushing touchdown and a 50-yard receiving touchdown.

The win definitely wasn’t easy for the Bulldogs, though. FPC was down early in the first quarter following a scoring drive by the Pirates to open the game.

The Pirates (0-1) received the kickoff, and on the first play of the game, QB Al’Kwazi Spencer threw a swing pass to Shawn White in the flat. White then hurled the ball down the field to a streaking Dorian Stanard. The play was good for 50 yards and set up a 1-yard rushing touchdown by White just five minutes into the game.

After a swap of possessions, FPC tied the game, 7-7. A 35-yard field goal by Drew Jones gave the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead.

The the Bulldogs pulled away.

White, who lined up as QB in the Wildcat formation, took consecutive snaps as the Pirates tried to punch the ball into the end zone. With 3:20 left in the second, White dove for the goal line but fumbled.

FPC recovered.

Three plays later, the Bulldogs took a 17-7 lead when FPC QB Colton Boyd, a sophomore, found Lumpkins, another sophomore, on a 50-yard pitch-and-catch for touchdown.

Considering how close Matanzas was to scoring, the Lumpkins score represented a 14-point swing.

The Bulldogs (1-0) battled through injuries to at least four starters.

Boyd finished the game 11-for-14 passing for 144 yards and a touchdown, while his counterpart, Spencer, went 19-for-24 for 221 yards and one interception.

Campana said Boyd is improving daily.

“We coach him every day,” Campana said. “He’s the kind of kid (who) loves to be coached. He works hard. He’s going to be a good one.”

Pirates coach Keith Lagocki reminded his team after the game that the contest against FPC is meaningless when it comes to vying for a district championship and a berth in the state playoffs.

Next up, the Bulldogs play 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Seabreeze. The Pirates play 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Florida Air Academy.

 

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